Proteomic and histopathological characterisation of sicca subjects and primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients reveals promising tear, saliva and extracellular vesicle disease biomarkers

Table 6 Highly upregulated proteins in EVs isolated from stimulated whole saliva of pSS patients

Number	Gene	Related protein*	Classification and function**
Non-SS vs. pSS
1	CD44	CD44 antigen	FOXP3 expression and regulatory T-cell suppression, promotes tumour growth
2	MVP	Major vault protein	IFNγ-mediated signalling, MAP kinase activity, neutrophil degranulation
3	NGAL	Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin	Innate immunity, tumour-associated antigen, cell adhesion
Controls vs. pSS
1	FCN1	Ficolin-1	Pattern-recognition receptor in innate immunity, complement activation
2	CD44	CD44 antigen	FOXP3 expression and regulatory T-cell suppression, promotes tumour growth
3	ANXA4	Annexin A4	NF-kappaB binding, apoptosis, IL-8 secretion

*The three most upregulated immunological proteins in whole saliva of pSS patients deviating in replicates i.e. number of individuals (frequency), and spectral counts, as identified by proteomics analysis and Scaffold (v 4.4.6, http://www.proteomesoftware.com/products/scaffold/)
**The classification and functions of the proteins presented were identified using publicly available databases, such as UniProt (http://www.uniprot.org)

ISSN: 1478-6362